A            E         D          A
Once I had a colour as red as the rose
       E          D             A         E
Now my colour has fade like the lily that grows
       A          E             D         E
Now my colour has fade like the lily that grows
      A                E                D                  A
If it wasn't for flash company I should ne'er have been so poor


[Chorus]
       A                E                    D           A
So you take this yellow handkerchief in a remembrance of me
    E                 D                      A           E
And tie it round your neck, my love, in your flash company
      A                    E                D          E
Flash company has been the ruin of me and a great many more
      A                E                D                  A
If it wasn't for flash company I should ne'er have been so poor


[Verse]
          A           E               D         A
Well it's singing and dancing well it was my delight
      E                  D                   A          E
Flash company's been the ruin of me, and the ruin of me quite (quite!)
      A                  E                D          E
Flash company's been the ruin of me and a great many more
        A                E              D                  A
If it wasn't for flash company I should ne'er have been so poor


[Chorus]
       A                E                    D           A
So you take this yellow handkerchief in a remembrance of me
    E                 D                      A           E
And tie it round your neck, my love, in your flash company
      A                    E                D          E
Flash company has been the ruin of me and a great many more
      A                E                D                  A
If it wasn't for flash company I should ne'er have been so poor


[Verse]
        A              E                  D          A
So come all you little flash girls take a warning by me
    E                D                     A        E
And never build your nest, my love, on the top of a tree
        A                      E              D               E
For the green leaves they will wither and the roots they will decay
        A           E                 D         A
And the beauty of a fair maid it will soon fade away


[Chorus]
       A                E                    D           A
So you take this yellow handkerchief in a remembrance of me
    E                 D                      A           E
And tie it round your neck, my love, in your flash company
      A                    E                D          E
Flash company has been the ruin of me and a great many more
      A                E                D                  A
If it wasn't for flash company I should ne'er have been so poor